More Citizens Arrested In Connection With Shutdown Violence

Police continue to arrest people in connection with the violent protests that characterised last week’s national shutdown with a Harare man Passmore Nthyothyo (25) becoming the latest victim after he was picked yesterday, seven days the fracas.

According to the state, on January 14 2019 at Kamunhu shopping centre in Mabvuku, Nthyothyo together with his accomplices who are still at large disturbed the public security, barricading roads, throwing missiles at Choppies Supermarket before looting groceries while armed with catapults.

It is alleged that Nthyothyo and his accomplices went on to throw missiles at various shops, forcing people to join the shutdown campaign.

The state argued that the violence led to the distraction of several buildings.

Nthyothyo was later arrested at Ruwa shopping center where he is alleged to have been positively identified as the perpetrator of the violence in Mabvuku.

He is represented by Advocate Thabani Mpofu.

Mpofu tried to fast track his trial but the decided ruled against his challenge, postponing the matter to 24 January 2019.

Meanwhile, Shadreck Asani (27) and Daniel Shingirai (32) also appeared before court on allegations of public violence.

Allegations are that the two who were traveling in a Mazda B1600 pickup barricaded roads using stones and boulders threatening members of the public who were going on with their usual business.